Swarm, a constellation mission comprising three identical satellites, was launched in November 2013. It has been used to survey the geomagnetic field and its temporal evolution to an unprecedented level of accuracy, and to investigate the interaction of the geomagnetic and electric fields with the Earth system and near-Earth space.

The three Swarm satellites make high-resolution measurements of the strength, direction and variation of the magnetic field, complemented by precise navigation, accelerometer, plasma and electric field measurements. Its constellation configuration has enabled observations of the gradients within the geomagnetic field, ionospheric and thermospheric parameters, and the gravitational field. Since 2013 the two lower satellites flying side-by-side with an initial altitude of 460 km have decreased in orbital height. The third satellite, at a higher altitude, has separated from the lower two in local time by few hours.

This session solicits contributions about recent scientific results from the mission in terms of data analysis and Earth science applications with a focus on the exploitation of the gradient information and diverging local time measurements achieved by the Swarm mission. General contributions on results using Swarm data, in combination with other satellite missions or ground observations are also very welcome.

The objective of this symposium is to bring new insights into the understanding of the coupling processes in the atmosphere-ionosphere system. Coupling covers various dynamical, chemical, and electrodynamical processes. The coupled effects can be expressed in terms of the modulation of waves from the lower to the upper atmosphere as well as from low- to high-latitudes, electrodynamic and compositional changes, plasma drifts, electric fields and plasma irregularities at different latitudinal regions of the globe due to the varying energy inputs. Middle atmospheric dynamics, and particularly atmospheric waves, play a leading role in determining the variability of the atmosphere-ionosphere system. The MLT region is a critical region in the coupling between the lower/middle atmosphere and the upper atmosphere/ionosphere. It represents a physical filter and shape the flux of waves ascending through the mesosphere into the overlying thermosphere. The manner in which the couplings take place due to varying energy inputs from the Sun and from the lower atmosphere is a question that is yet to be understood. This symposium solicits papers dealing with experiments, observations, modeling and data analysis that describe the effects of atmospheric coupling processes within the atmosphere-ionosphere system. It will address both recent theoretical and empirical results concerning the coupling mechanisms through dynamics, composition and electrodynamics. The symposium will be particularly focused on the dependence of coupling processes on the solar and geomagnetic activity, the downward control effects transferring from the strongly solar dependent structure to the lower atmospheric levels and upward propagating structures induced in the lower atmosphere by changing solar activity.

This symposium is co-sponsored by the International Commission on the Middle Atmosphere (ICMA) of the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science (IAMAS) and the Scientific Committee on Solar Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP). Scientific contributions related to VarSITI's ROSMIC project are encouraged.

The occurrence of equatorial spread-F, plasma bubbles, equatorial ionization anomaly (EIA), equatorial electrojet (EEJ) and the development of the F3-layer present a strong day-to-day variability, mainly caused by the ionospheric electrodynamics, thermospheric wind and wave actions (gravity waves, tides, planetary waves, TIDs and MSTIDs). Recent multi-instrument and multi-site observations, as well as, theoretical and simulation investigations have advanced our understanding of these phenomena, both during quiet and disturbed periods including geomagnetic storm and substorm, solar eclipse and solar flare, sudden stratospheric warming and different meteorological events.

The objective of this symposium is to bring together experimentalists and theoreticians to survey the latest results, examine new ideas and concepts, and to indicate important future directions in equatorial and low-latitude research.

The recent discovery that lightning discharges can cause energetic radiation, relativistic particles, and transient luminous events in the middle atmosphere has marked a profound advance in our understanding of the Earth's atmospheric electrodynamic behaviour. This symposium explores these novel processes and their impact on the near-Earth environment which is explored by space missions supported by ground based field work. The session solicits contributions which advance knowledge in the areas of the global atmospheric electric circuit, lightning physics, transient luminous events, energetic radiation, relativistic particles, and their impact on the Earth's upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere. Interdisciplinary studies which emphasize the connection between atmospheric layers, their electrodynamics and climate change are particularly welcome.

This session will give an overview of the most significant accomplishments in the field of solar-terrestrial physics. Special focus will be given to the 60th anniversary of the International Geophysical Year (IGY) which produced a step-change in the rate of exploration and observation during 1957-1958. The term “space weather” was also used for the first time during this period.

This session aims to provide a platform to discuss developmental landmarks in the history of research on solar-terrestrial interactions. Nowadays interest in being able to predict solar activity and its impact on the Earth is more important than ever due to the possibility of disruption to technologies due to space weather. Furthermore analysis and prediction of solar-terrestrial data has many applications in our modern world. Understanding solar-terrestrial interactions can support safe operations of airplanes and satellites, navigation of ships, drilling, protection of power grids and so on.

Papers related to the historical viewpoint of research on solar-terrestrial interactions and practical applications thereof are solicited. The history of developments in observations, instrumentation and preservation of the relevant historical holdings are also in the scope of the session.

Tides play an important role in coupling the various regions of the atmosphere and ionosphere. Recent observational and modelling efforts have brought in newer aspects of this coupling. This session will focus on those aspects of atmosphere-ionospheric coupling in which tides have a major role to play. In particular, we solicit results that advance our understanding of the electrodynamical processes at low latitudes using a variety of ground-based and satellite observations and whole atmosphere models.

Focus will be on the role of tides in determining the spatio-temporal variabilities of low latitude ionospheric current systems (Sq and EEJ) and large-scale plasma structures and instabilities.

The science behind Space Weather is becoming increasingly multidisciplinary. From solar eruptions, to solar-wind/magnetosphere/ionosphere interactions, to complex couplings of the Earth's global electrical circuit and Schumann resonances, to space-weather impacts on other planetary environments, the scientific puzzles to solve are complex and require advances in modeling. Nowadays, forecasting models range from completely empirical, such as the prediction of geomagnetic indexes based on statistical regression analysis, to physics-based, for example, state-of-the-art MHD simulations of Coronal Mass Ejection propagation. The paradigm of 'grey-box modeling' lives between these two extrema: data-driven reduced models that on one hand stem from a physics description, and on the other hand rely on data analysis to fit the free parameters. This approach is highly effective for interpreting space-weather-related data. It can also be a useful tool in support of space missions throughout the solar system, as seen for example in global radiation modeling that includes the parameterization of space weather conditions in plasma- interaction scenarios. All of these modeling approaches benefit from mathematical techniques that have been typically studied in contexts outside that of space weather. This topic is thus a fertile ground for a broad range of interdisciplinary collaborations.

We encourage contributions pertaining to recent progress in the effective incorporation of data into space weather modeling and prediction at any point along the chain from sun to planets. Moreover, we welcome approaches that are less traditional in the space weather community but possess potential for significant progress in forecasting and understanding space weather, and that draw upon "lessons learned" or "best practices" from applications to non-space-weather problems."